How much is it worth.

[Wildfire]

As I am nearing unemployment (today ) my current employer is unable to pay me and is offering me the worksation I have been using as payment for another month's services. Now since the demise of my last desktop I could do with one, btu I am really unsure of how much it's worth, seeing as I have been out of the computer market for a while.

I was wondering if a helpful PHer could let me know roughly how much it is worth, spec is:

x2 Pentium 4, 3.0 Xeon HT Processros
Super Micro MB
1024mb PC 2700 DDR
x1 80Gb IDE HDD
500Gb Raid 0 array
Dual Layer DVD Burner.
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 128mb

No monitors or speaker, just the box.

In the days of Dual Processors and Dual Channel DDR memory etc, does it still fare well. I do a lot of processor intensive rendering, but would I be better off saving myself some time and building myself a Dual Core machine?

Cheers

Chris

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

I'd say max £1000 but I'd probably pay £500. Slow RAM is the issue.

[theboss]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd say max £1000 but I'd probably pay £500. Slow RAM is the issue.

If it helps I recently bought a brand new HP workstation (in factory sealed packaging with warranty) with a similar spec for £350.

Better than nothing - especially if you're after a PC - but certainly not worth a months pay.

To be honest the rise of dual-core processors, Core 2 Duo, etc. has rendered old single-core P4 class machines worthless, anybody in the market for a £500+ PC just doesn't want one.

Edited by theboss on Tuesday 28th November 16:38

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

theboss said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd say max £1000 but I'd probably pay £500. Slow RAM is the issue.

If it helps I recently bought a brand new HP workstation (in factory sealed packaging with warranty) with a similar spec for £350.

Better than nothing but certainly not worth a months pay.

It had 2 physical processors (not dual core things) for £350? Crikey.

[theboss]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

theboss said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd say max £1000 but I'd probably pay £500. Slow RAM is the issue.

If it helps I recently bought a brand new HP workstation (in factory sealed packaging with warranty) with a similar spec for £350.

Better than nothing but certainly not worth a months pay.

It had 2 physical processors (not dual core things) for £350? Crikey.

Sorry mate - I read Pentium 4 in your post but missed 'Xeon'. It is worth a bit more then but to give you an idea I also recently bought an HP workstation on ebay with twin 2.4GHz Xeons for £295+VAT !!

The other machine I referred to had a single core 3.4GHz P4. I bought a 3.4GHz Pentium D (dual core equivalent) for £120 and sold the old CPU on ebay for £80 so call it £390 for a dual-core 3.4GHz with 4MB L2 cache - still pretty good if you ask me.

As for two physical processors vs. dual core 'things' - I'd say the Pentium D box is a fair bit quicker than the dual Xeon box - I use it for virtualising test environments amongst other things and it's pretty impressive, even for what is now 'obsolete' architecture.

Edited by theboss on Tuesday 28th November 16:45

[Wildfire]

Cheers guys, I shall do a bit of negotiating.

[ThePassenger]

Wildfire said:

x2 Pentium 4, 3.0 Xeon HT Processros
Super Micro MB
1024mb PC 2700 DDR
x1 80Gb IDE HDD
500Gb Raid 0 array
Dual Layer DVD Burner.
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 128mb

Tell them you'll take everything computer related and roll up in a van, strip all the machines / servers / switches and routers that aren't on lease and get yourself an ebay account. Furniture as well, office stuff is always a good seller and handy for doing out your home office as well.

Now with 2x CPU's that box is worth a bit, however the motherboard... smells like a self-build as most workstations are Intel CPU + Intel Mobo. 1Gb RAM, that's 'standard' these days, 80gb IDE... standard. 500Gb Raid 0 (i.e. span set) not impressive, 2x250Gb SATA/IDE drives I'm guessing. DVD-Burner £23 new, Quadro FX card... hmm... Might be worth something but it looks like an old one, so as a 'spares' might sell.

That unit on it's own != months wages.

[mcflurry]

Maybe say 2 weeks cash and the pc as a compromise?

[ThePassenger]

mcflurry said:

Maybe say 2 weeks cash and the pc as a compromise?

Maybe. Although I'd be pushing for the van, ebay account and as much cold hard cash as I could get my hands on before they leg it.

Just my personal opinion of course

[dickymint]

Take the bugger to tribunal and get your money.

[Leftie]

I would be inclined to get the deal in writing and have it transfered to you before the work starts. If you trust him to give it you, he should trust you do do the work? If the company is in dire straights and goes t1ts up the PC may become an asset for creditors if you don't own it. Possession is also nine tenths!